makes me forget how much tender care you need I'm telling
you now that I'm here to give you that, and I'm going to be
more sensitive in the very near future."
Smokey's heart melted at his words, and Dallas could wait
no longer to kiss her. He held her tenderly for long moments
and kissed her with all the love and desire he had kept stored
inside When Smokey could finally breathe, she nearly laughed
at the sight behind Dallas.
"My men are watching." It was literally the whole crew.
"What do they see?" Dallas asked without turning around
"A man and woman in love," Smokey told him contentedly.
"Do they also see a man and woman who are going to
become husband and wife?"
Smokey nodded "Yes, but I won't promise not to be overcome
with fears again."
"I can deal with that as long as you promise to come to
me."
"I promise."
Dallas kissed her again, and then stared down at her with
childish wonder in his eyes.
"He was really your father?"
Smokey smiled in return. "Really."
"Wow," Dallas said in deep admiration, before he kissed
her once again. When he raised his head, it was Smokey's turn.
"Wow," was all she could get out before he kissed her
anew.
271
fourteen months later
dallas paced the small confines of the captain's cabin,
imploring the ceiling in frustration as he moved
'"Just a quick trip down the coast, Dallas,' she says to me.
'We haven't seen your folks since the wedding, and I miss
them,' she says. 'The baby's not due for ages,' were her words."
He stopped and turned quickly toward the bunk, his
expression going from frustration to worry until a small moan
escaped his wife.
and brushed the hair from Smokey's damp face. "I didn't mean
any of that. I'll never say another sarcastic word as long as I
live if you'll just wait until we get home to have this baby."
Smokey panted as the contraction died down. "I can't help
it, Dallas. He's coming, and I can't help it."
"She's coming," Dallas automatically corrected her as he
had done for six months. "We'll be there in less than an hour,"
he continued pleadingly, as though she could control the
demands of her body.
Smokey opened her mouth to tell him she was trying, but
another contraction hit. Dallas watched his wife's agony as
the pain of seeing her suffer racked his own body. Smokey
271
moaned low in her throat at that moment but said nothing;
Dallas didn't think he could take any more.
/ don 'tknow the first thing about delivering a baby, Lord.
Please help us, Dallas began to pray. He continued to pray for
the next hour.
Smokey didn't seem any more comfortable, but she was
wonderful as each pain came and went. An hour later they
had docked at Kennebunk, but not left the ship. Darsey had
gone for help. Just when Dallas didn't think he could go on
much longer, someone knocked on the door and entered He
breathed a great sigh of relief at the sight of Willa. The older
woman checked Smokey with swift, practiced movements
and pronounced her too far along to be moved
Dallas would have groaned at the news, but there was no
time. The next 40 minutes passed in a blur for the young
husband, as Willa coaxed and coached and then presented
Dallas and Smokey with a large baby boy. He was red and
screaming and the enamored father thought him beautiful.
Smokey, in a state of near exhaustion, commented that he
was rather wrinkly. Willa told her in a huff that he was the
most beautiful baby on the earth, but Smokey only chuckled
and closed her eyes.
had his wife and son at home. Smokey was tucked up neatly in
their big bed, and the baby, who had just eaten, was sleeping
beside her. Dallas sat down gingerly on the bed and looked
into Smokey's eyes.
"Have I thanked you for my beautiful son?" Dallas asked
her.
"I think you just did," Smokey told him, a tender smile on
her lips. "Are you terribly disappointed that I got my boy?"
Dallas grinned "No. We'll have that girl next time."
272
Smokey groaned, and Dallas leaned to kiss her.
"What are we going to name this little person?" Smokey
asked, even though she had already decided she wanted
another Dallas.
"Well, I think it's rather obvious," Dallas told her. Smokey
sighed with pleasure, knowing he was going to agree with her.
"This," Dallas spoke as he lifted his sleeping son from the
crook of Smokey's arm, "is Clancy Knight."
Smokey's eyes rounded, and her pretty mouth dropped
open. Dallas, who was kissing his son, grinned in delight over
the top of his silky head
"Clancy?" Smokey whispered
"Of course." Dallas' voice was low as well. "I didn't need to
know your father to believe that he would have been thrilled
with his grandson."
Smokey bit her lip, but tears still filled her eyes.
"And," Dallas continued, "it won't be long at all before our
little Clancy understands what a special man his grandfather
was, and he'll be proud to share his name."
"Oh, Dallas," Smokey sighed. "I think you're wonderful."
"Thank you, my love," he said simply, and he placed Clancy
back in Smokey's arms. "I think you're pretty special yourself."
Fatigue was swiftly crowding in on Smokey, and she could
only manage a contented smile before her eyes closed
Dallas quietly took a chair near the bed and watched his
that Aggie, who had been working at Bracken for some months,
had come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Dallas knew
that Smokey would be thrilled with the news.
Tate, Jenny, Victoria, and their new little Carol had all
come with a gift, but hadn't stayed when they'd learned that
Smokey had just been settled in.
Dallas had forgotten to tell Smokey any of this, and now
she was asleep. At the moment, however, none of it seemed to
matter. God had given them a son so perfect and wonderful
273
that Dallas couldn't, as yet, find the words to thank Him. He
felt tears sting at the back of his throat every time he tried
As Dallas watched them sleep, he suddenly chuckled to
himself when he thought about how closely Clancy had come
to being born at sea, and how fitting it was that he had been
born aboard theAramis. The laughter quieted when his mind
unexpectedly turned back to the last weeks, months, and
years in which he had known Smokey. So much had happened,
and God's love and provision had been so faithful.
Smokey's favorite verses from Psalm 139 jumped to mind
at that moment. Dallas was feeling very tired himself, but
before he drifted off to sleep in the chair,
these were the
verses in his heart:
Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither
shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into
heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell,
behold, thou art there. If/ take the wings of the
morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the
sea, even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right
band shall bold me.